Dubuque County >> 1894 Index
Jones County
Clayton County

Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties
Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894.

H

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Becky Teubner.

JOHN HAGENSICK

Few of the agriculturists of Clayton County are better known than the subject of this biographical sketch, who is a resident of Boardman Township and is there engaged in cultivating the soil and raising a good grade of stock. His finely improved farm contains three hundred and twenty acres, and is supplied with all the comforts that are to be found upon any first-class estate. In addition to this property he also owns a sixty-acre tract, so that his entire landed possessions aggregate three hundred and eighty acres.

A native of Germany , the subject of this notice was born on the 27th of April, 1839 , being a son of Christopher and Eva (Beringer) Hagensick, both of whom were born in the same province of Germany as himself. The family emigrated to the United States in 1851 and at once came to Clayton County, Iowa, where they for a time rented farm land. Later they took up land from the Government. They passed their remaining years on this place, where the father died at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother at the age of seventy. Their children numbered eight, of whom six are living at the present time.

When the family came to America our subject was about twelve years old, and he grew to manhood upon the home farm amid primeval surroundings, for at that time very few improvements had been made in the now prosperous and well improved county. In 1862 he journeyed westward to Colorado and also visited other western states and territories, spending six or seven years in that portion of the country and being variously employed in the meantime. Returning from the west he resumed farm work, at which he has since been engaged. He was thirty-two years old when he chose a helpmate and companion, his union being with Miss Minnie Bedoe, whose parents, Frederick and Anna Bedoe, were among the early settlers of Clayton County . Mrs. Bedoe still lives here, but Mr. Bedoe died in Read Township about two years ago. There have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hagensick six daughters and four sons, all of whom are living with the exception of the eldest son, who died at the age of eighteen years.

Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Hagensick purchased from his father the old homestead, upon which he continued to engage in mixed farming until about 1884, when he disposed of the property and bought three hundred and twenty acres constituting his present estate. In his business enterprises he is keen and sagacious, and in addition to other landed and moneyed interests is a stockholder in a bank. He is well-to-do in this world's goods and the prosperity he has gained is richly deserved, for it has been acquired by his own indefatigable exertions, seconded by the counsel and active co-operation of his estimable wife. He has never mingled actively in politics, but believes in the principles of the Democratic party, which he uniformly supports. With his family he belongs to the Lutheran Church , the services of which he regularly attends, and the good works of which he aids by contributing of his means and time to their support.

DANIEL HALLAHAN, an able, energetic and practical agriculturist of extended experience, has prosperously won his way upward to assured success, and manages one of the model farms of Iowa . Beginning some thirty-three years ago upon eighty acres of wild prairie land he now owns a magnificent homestead of three hundred and sixty acres, two hundred of which are located on sections 4 and 9, Prairie Creek Township , Dubuque County , Iowa . The land, brought up to a high state of cultivation, is finely improved with substantial structures, a comfortable and commodious residence, barns and outbuildings. An earnest and intelligent man of upright character, Mr. Hallahan has worthily occupied the official position of Township Trustee, and commands the full esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Our subject was born in County Cork , Ireland , in 1822. His parents, John and Julia Hallahan, were both natives of County Cork , and were reared, married and died in their early home. The father was an excellent Irish farmer and thoroughly understood the tilling of the soil. He and his good wife lived to serene old age and were highly respected by all who knew them, They were Roman Catholics, and brought up their family of three sons and four daughters in the faith of their forefathers, Of the seven children of the parental family, but two are now living. Two sons came to America , John, who settled in Lincoln , Neb. , where he died August 27, 1891 , and our subject, Daniel, who began to follow the plow when he was only eight years of age. He was thirty-two years old before he finally determined to leave his native land and try his fortune in America . During his boyhood he enjoyed the advantages of instruction in the common schools, attending when he could be spared from farming duties. In 1854 Mr. Hallahan sailed from Liverpool , bound for the land of promise beyond the broad Atlantic . Leaving the Old Country April 1, he was six weeks upon the Atlantic , encountering terrible storms, and landing safely in New York , speeded by cars to Dubuque , Iowa , reaching his destination May 20. Immediately receiving employment, he worked steadily for five years upon a farm, and in 1859 bought eighty acres of his present extensive homestead and began life for himself upon the unbroken land purchased with his hard-earned money. His first care was to build a habitable shelter, and then began the patient cultivation of the fertile soil, which well repaid its culture. Neighbors were few and far between in those early days, and our subject being a single man experienced loneliness until his marriage in 1865 with Miss Margaret Ragan; she was born in Florida , but was reared in Jackson County, Iowa.

The parents of Mrs. Hallahan were Dennis and Mary (Desmond) Ragan, natives of County Cork , Ireland , but early settlers of Florida , and later well known residents of Iowa . Our subject and his estimable wife are the parents of eight children, who are in the order of their birth as follows: John, Daniel, Jeremiah, Dennis, Michael, Pat, Julia and Maggie. The father, mother and children are valued members of the Catholic Church and are ever ready to aid in any worthy enterprise or good works. They enjoy an extended acquaintance, and are highly respected and esteemed by a large circle of old-time friends.

Mr. Hallahan, aside from the profitable culture of the soil, has made a pronounced success of stock-raising, and upon his extensive farm some of the best cattle, horses and hogs in this part of the country are bred. His financial prosperity was wrought by his own self-reliant efforts and unflagging industry, rewarded in these later years by a comfortable competence and annual returns for all investment of time and money expended. Politically, our subject is a sturdy Democrat and an ardent advocate of the "party of the people." As Township Trustee he has materially aided in the progress of local improvements, and is actively identified with the best interests of Dubuque County , with whose upward growth and rapid development he became associated more than a score and a-half of years ago.

HARM HARMS

Among the worthy German-American citizens of Jones County to whose efforts can be traced much of the progress of this thriving portion of the state, is this gentleman, who is President of the Clover Leaf Creamery Company; he has long been an active agriculturist of Wayne Township . Mr. Harms was born in Hanover , Germany , December 21, 1828 , being the son of John H. and Anna Maria (Reanker) Harms. The father was a farmer and continued to reside in the Old Country until his death.

In the excellent schools of the Fatherland our subject received a good education and remained a student until he was fourteen years of age. He worked on his father's farm until 1857, when he made up his mind that he would try his fortunes in the United States , believing that the New World afforded better opportunities for a young man of energetic and industrious disposition. Taking passage in the sailing-vessel "Orpheus," he landed in New York City after forty days passed upon the briny deep. From the metropolis he proceeded direct to Madison County, Ill., where he went to work on a farm, and while there met and married Miss Maria Johnston. After this event the young couple settled upon a farm in the same county, which was rented by Mr. Harms until 1866. That year he removed with his family to Jones County and bought eighty acres of land. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising and of late years has been particularly interested in the dairy business, in which he has met with good success. As the years have passed he has extended the boundaries of his farm little by little as he could afford it, until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of the choicest land to be found in the county. Besides carrying on strictly legitimate farming in a very practical method, Mr. Harms has made a goodly sum from buying, selling and shipping live stock. On his place are substantial and well fitted barns and outbuildings, and a deep, never failing well, wind pump and suitable tanks afford a sufficient water supply for his stock.

One of the principal organizers of the Clover Leaf Creamery Company, and having long been an advocate of the system, Mr. Harms was eminently fitted to become President of the enterprise, to which position he was unanimously elected by the stockholders. This creamery, which has only recently been formed, bids fair to be one of the substantial industries of Jones County, and long experience has demonstrated the fact that creameries are of great benefit to agriculturists and the community at large, for they can more easily reach the consumer, and as they handle milk, butter and cheese in large quantities, are better enabled to supply the public with standard articles. Mr. Harms is a member of the Mutual Insurance Company and is now officiating as its secretary. This company insures only farm property and numbers among its patrons the most progressive and careful farmers of this region. In his political faith Mr. Harms is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and in every way endeavors to fulfill the obligations of citizenship.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harms, the eldest of whom, Anna M., is the wife of C. Schatz. Herman is a practical farmer. Tena became the wife of Adam Scheer, and the two younger sons, Gerd and John, are also living under the parental roof and assisting their father in the cultivation of the farm, while Maria is at home assisting her mother.

PATRICK HAYES is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on his large and well equipped farm on section 7, Cass Township , Since 1856 he has been numbered among the agriculturists of Jones County , though for many years prior to that he was extensively engaged in railroad contracting in this state, as well as in other states in the west.

The birth of Patrick Hayes occurred in County Tipperary , Ireland , in 1845, his parents being Patrick and Johannah (Kain) Hayes, who were also natives of the Emerald Isle. The father died when his son and namesake was quite young, and in 1851 the mother came with her family to America . They arrived in New York City , where they lived for some years, and finally in 1855 came to Iowa , making a settlement in Linn County . In the schools of the neighborhood young Hayes received his education and engaged in farm work until twenty-four years of age. At that time he became an employe of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad and took contracts for its construction. He was also in the same business in Iowa and Nebraska for the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad. Later he received and executed contracts for construction on the Midland Railroad, and in these enterprises met with a good degree of success. Prior to this he spent three years on the Pacific Coast . His natural tastes, however, were in the direction of agriculture, and in 1871 he returned to the business, embarking in farming on his own account in Cass Township, where he has successfully conducted a farm ever since. His place of one hundred and eighty acres is nearly all under cultivation, and abundant harvests are gathered there from each year. The owner raises a good grade of cattle and hogs and is practical and progressive in his methods and in the management of his affairs.

In political matters Mr. Hayes is a Democrat and has always taken a leading part in public improvements and educational work. In religion he is a Catholic, and with his wife and family is a regular attendant at the services of his church. Among his friends and neighbors he is highly esteemed on account of his industrious life and habits.

In 1871 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hayes and Miss Nancy Kairn, the daughter of Michael Kairn. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes have had a family of four sons and three daughters, who in order of birth are as follows: Ellen, Susan, William, John, Frank, Cecelia and Leo. Their parents are giving them the benefit of a good education whereby to meet the duties and battles of life and are training them to become useful citizens.

FRANCIS M. HICKS

In the life of this retired farmer of Jones County there is much for the reader to admire and emulate, and it affords us pleasure to incorporate in this volume the main events of his useful and honorable ca­reer. He was very prosperous in his farming ven­tures and is now living in Monticello in the en­joyment of a hard-earned fortune. Mr. Hicks is a native of New York , and was born in Rensselaer County , March 23, 1822 . His father, George Hicks, was also born in the same state and county as was our subject, where he carried on farm pursuits in a profitable manner and was a prominent figure in all worthy movements. His wife prior to her marriage was Miss Laura Carpenter, a native of Massachusetts . Both pa­rents departed this life while residing in Wayne County , N. Y. Francis M., of this sketch, and a sister, Mrs. Horton, of New York , are the only survivors of the parental family of seven sons and three daughters. His boyhood days were passed in attending school in Wayne County , to which place his father and mother removed when he was four years of age. He remained at home until attaining his sixteenth year, when he started out to make his own way in the world. Young Hicks lived in his native state until 1848, when we find him en route for this state. His destination being Jones County, he located in Bowen's Prairie, in Monticello Town­ship , four miles northeast of the city, where he purchased a quarter-section of land, and from that small start as a foundation he built the magnificent fortune with which he was afterward blessed. In 1882 Mr. Hicks removed with his family into this city, where he devotes his time to looking after his varied interests. His fine estate, comprising over five hundred broad acres, is occupied by tenants. In 1847 our subject was married to Miss Frances A., daughter of Ebenezer and Abby H. Little, and to them has been granted a family of nine children, bearing the respective names of Frank T., Ophelia, Harry H., Ebenezer, Elmer, Grant S., M. D.; Ernest H., a lawyer; Laura A. and Archie G. Harry is a farmer; Grant S., a practicing physician at Tacoma , Wash. ; Ernest H., a prominent attorney in Monticello , and Archie is at home. The latter is a graduate of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor . In politics Mr. Hicks is a firm believer in Re­publican principles and has served on that ticket as Sheriff of Jones County. He is a stockholder and Director in the Monticello Bank and is a man whose advice and counsel are much sought by business men. Our subject during the late war enlisted in 1864 in Company H, Thirty-first Iowa Infantry, Colonel Jenkins commanding. The regiment was on gar­rison and detached duty until the close of the war, when they were discharged and mustered out.

HENRY HOLSCHER, deceased, was for three years Major of Dyersville, Dubuque County , and at the time of his death left a large fortune. No family is more favorably known in this locality than the one of which he was a member. He was born in Telgte, West­phalia , Prussia , February 23, 1832 . He was the second in order of birth of a family of four sons. His father was a farmer in the Fatherland, and as such our subject was reared, having but a limited education. In 1853 he came to America , and for a time worked on the railroad. In 1857 his brother Bernard also came to the United States , and though neither had any great amount of money, they put together what little they possessed and started a small store in Dyersville. From this beginning they built up one of the largest mercantile trades in the county. This they conducted until the death of our subject, which occurred February 23, 1883 . His brother and partner survived him until March 6, 1893 , when he was also called to his final rest. He was Presi­dent of the German State Bank of this place at the time of his demise, and, like his brother, left valuable estates.

For his wife our subject chose Miss Catherine Schultz, who was also a native of Prussia , and who still survives. They had ten children, six daughters and four sons, all of whom are living. Their record is as follows: Maggie is the wife of Her­man Goerdt, of this place; Lizzie became the wife of I. Summer, a prominent business man, and one of the present Board of Aldermen of Dyersville; Threaine is the wife of Jacob Reiff, a business man, and also an alderman of the city; Frank, who was born February 9, 1868, was educated at Prairie du Chien, Wis,, and in company with his brother Bernard conducts the extensive business that his father built up in his life time. He is a popular and rising young business man, and will make his mark in the world. He married on Oc­tober 8, 1889 , Miss Frances Meis, of Dubuque , by whom he has one child, a daughter, Leona. Annie, the fifth of the family, is the wife of John Schelty,a business man of Dubuque . Bernard, who is next in order, is a member of the firm of Holscher Bros., as previously mentioned; Henry is in the machine business in Dyersville; Katie, Lena and Theodore are still living with their mother.

For years our subject was thoroughly identified with all movements tending to benefit the com­munity in which he made his home, and it was, therefore, little wonder that when he was cut down by the hand of death his loss was felt indeed an irreparable one for the people at large. He was a man of true worth and merit, and it was due to his enterprising, industrious qualities and correct business methods that he achieved the success which he obtained in the mercantile field.

EDWARD C. HOLT, Postmaster at Anamosa, is greatly respected for those qualities of head and heart which have won for him the esteem and confidence of all with whom he associates. He is popular in his official capacity, and is discharging the duties of his position with characteristic fidelity and greatly to the satisfaction of all concerned. Our subject was born in Ireland January 8, 1832 , and when three years old emigrated to New Brunswick in company with his parents, who made their home in St. John's . There he attended school, and upon completing his education learned the trade of a stone and brick mason, together with plastering, under the instruction of Otis Small, of Bangor , Me.

March 30, 1857 , Mr. Holt crossed into the States, coming, May 30, to Anamosa, which at that time was a small town. He immediately found work at his trade and ere long began contracting, building stores, dwellings and churches. He was thus employed until 1893, when, having accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods, he retired from active business, devoting his time to looking after his property in the city.

In the spring of 1894 Mr. Holt was appointed Postmaster of Anamosa, entering upon the duties of the office May 9, 1894 . He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and has served as Chairman of the Central Committee. He has always been interested in educational affairs and for a period of twelve years rendered efficient service on the School Board. Mr. Holt, with his family, occupies a beautiful residence in the city and numbers his friends among its best residents.

In 1861 Edward C. Holt and Miss Mary A. T. Sales were united in marriage. The lady was the daughter of Dr. Nathan G. Sales, who was a prominent physician and politician of this city and a most praiseworthy citizen. He held the office of Receiver of Moneys in the land office at Chariton , Iowa , from 1853 to 1856, under the administration of Franklin Pierce. He departed this life December 24, 1892 . Mrs. Holt departed this life June 19, 1885 , leaving a family of six children, namely: Tirzah C., Josie A., Harry J., Eddie S., Clara L. and Nellie. Harry J. assists his father in the post-office. Mr. Holt built the brick opera house on the corner of Maine and Garnavillo Streets in 1867, and is still the owner of that property besides much other valuable real estate in the city.

RICHARD HUMPHRY, a retired farmer who is now making his home in the village of Monona , Clayton County , still owns a tract of twenty acres of land which is within the corporate limits of the place. For about thirty successive years he has made his home in this county with the exception of two years when he was in California . For a number of years he engaged in the cultivation of a fine farm of two hundred acres in Giard Township , which he is still the possessor of, now renting the same. In various local township offices he has acquitted himself to the satisfaction of all, and numbers a host of warm friends in this locality, which has been his home for so many years.

A native of the Emerald Isle, our subject was born in County Limerick , November 25, 1835 , being a son of Richard and Mary (Coffee) Humphry, natives of Limerick and County Tipperary , respectively. The parents came to America with their family in 1847, and the father died in Quebec aged fifty-seven years. His wife, who survived him for a number of years, departed this life in Monona when in her sixty-eighth year. By her marriage she became the mother of five sons and two daughters, of whom Richard is the fourth in order of birth.

A lad of twelve years when he arrived in the United States , Richard Humphry went to Wisconsin and then to Clayton County in 1852, after a sojourn of a year and a-half in Canada . Locating on an unimproved farm in Monona Township , he engaged in its cultivation for five years in company with the other members of the family. Later they divided the farm and in 1859 our subject started for the Pacific Slope, going across the plains with ox-teams by way of Salt Lake City . Arriving in Placerville , Cal. , he there engaged in mining for three years, and in 1862 returned to this county by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York City . In 1866 Mr. Humphry once more returned to the Golden State , where he remained for two years and then embarked for home by the same route. It was then that he took up his farm of two hundred acres in Giard Township and settled down to devote his active life to its cultivation and development. He made a good farm of the place, greatly increasing its value, and this old homestead he has never had the heart to part with, but now leases it to tenants. For a period of two years he was engaged in the grain business, making shipments to Chicago , Milwaukee and other points.

In 1867 Mr. Humphry married Honora Looney, a native of Amboy, Ill. , born July 3, 1851 . Her father, John Looney, was a native of Ireland and one of the early settlers in the Prairie State . Mr. and Mrs. Humphry have two children, Marian, who was born in this county June 24, 1868, and Richard B., whose birth occurred March 22, 1870 . The daughter, who is a fine musician, attended St. Mary's Institute of Prairie du Chien, Wis. , for some time, there receiving a good education. The son is a graduate from the Law Department of Iowa State University and is a young man of promise. For four years Richard Humphry was a Township Trustee and has also served as School Director, He is one of the stockholders in the Clayton County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company. In his political convictions he is a Democrat and a worker in the cause.